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Millennium³²/STARLIMS Interface Is

Released

Milford, MA, & Hollywood, FL - January 8, 2003 - Waters® Corporation and L.I.M.S. (USA) Inc. ("L.i.M.S.") announced today the release of a new interface between Waters Millennium32 Chromatography Software and the STARLIMS laboratory information management system (LIMS). The new interface enables the STARLIMS and Millennium32 applications to meaningfully share actionable information without tedious intervening steps. With the introduction of this new interface, L.i.M.S. has elevated its status to Premier Partner in the Waters Software Partnership Program.

In this way, scientists performing chromatographic separations are now able to integrate STARLIMS and Millennium32 software functions to create analysis sequences and to perform real-time data collection. Once chromatographic data is collected in Millennium32 software, scientists can evaluate and approve results by invoking Millenium32 applications within the STARLIMS environment. The integration significantly reduces errors, improves accuracy, and greatly simplifies the process of managing scientific data between Millennium32 software and STARLIMS software products.

"We were very impressed with this new interface, which exposes to users the functional benefits of industry-leading solutions for both chromatography data software and LIMS, without the need to switch applications," said Patrick Martell, Director of Data Product Marketing at Waters. This type of seamless communication assists with laboratory workflow and improves laboratories compliance position.

"This development is exciting and well serves our companies' joint mission of providing scientists with intelligent tools to automate their demanding workflow. With this partnership materializing, we look forward to work with Waters on joint projects and leverage our complementary expertise and reputation in a number of targeted markets," added Itschak Friedman, President and CEO of L.i.M.S.

The advantages of the Waters and L.i.M.S. interface are clear cut to customers. "We see tremendous benefits with the relationship between Waters and L.i.M.S.," said Dr. Panna Chaudhari, Director of Technical Affairs at Fortitech, Inc. "A seamless interface between Millennium32 and STARLIMS will improve our laboratory productivity and minimize our compliance risk by eliminating manual data transfer."

Scientific Data and the Role of Management Software

A typical analytical laboratory generates hundreds or even thousands of test results daily which must be securely stored for long periods. Laboratory information management software (LIMS) is software for tracking individual samples and the information obtained on them with balances (weight), pH meters (pH), HPLC instrumentation (purity) and other analytical tools. Labs often use LIMS products as final report and release tools. Only after the results of all analytical techniques have been reviewed in LIMS, is a product released or rejected.

A Chromatography Data System (CDS) refers to special software for creating chromatographic methods of analysis, controlling chromatography instrumentation, acquiring raw data and processing it into results, archiving the results, or importing and/or exporting results (e.g., sample name, compound name, area and amount) to and from information systems such as a LIMS. Liquid and gas chromatography are ubiquitous techniques in research and development and quality control laboratories.

The critical role of an evolved CDS/LIMS interface accomplished by this joint effort of Waters and L.i.M.S. is to enable scientists and technical staff to seamlessly move electronic records between Millennium32 software and STARLIMS software without generating any additional non-controlled files. This is a superior enhancement for labs complying with 21 CFR Part 11 requirements encompassing security, data integrity, traceability, and audit trail generation.

About Waters Corporation

For 40 years, the Waters (NYSE: WAT) name has been synonymous with superior quality, innovation, and leadership in HPLC and LC/MS. As the largest company in the industry devoted to HPLC, thermal analysis, and mass spectrometry, Waters reported record revenues of $859M in 2001 and has 3,500 employees. The company's Millennium32 chromatography software, first introduced in 1992, was the first of its kind to fully incorporate an Oracle® relational database allowing chemists to locate information effortlessly and spot trends in their chromatographic analyses. More than 30,000 copies of Millennium32 software are in use today with the latest version delivering comprehensive capabilities to meet regulatory and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.

About L.i.M.S. (www.starlims.com)

L.i.M.S. and STARLIMS are trading names of L.I.M.S. (USA) Inc. STARLIMS is a powerful, full-featured, highly extensible and scalable laboratory information management system. STARLIMS is installed in more than 600 analytical laboratories, quality inspection organizations and high-end clinical operations throughout the world. L.i.M.S.' customers include government, municipal and private laboratories, as well as Fortune 500 corporations in the chemical, clinical, food, forensics, environmental, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical markets and industries.

About Fortitech, Inc. (www.fortitech.com)

Fortitech, Inc. is the world leader in the development of custom nutrient systems for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Founded in 1986, it is the only international company exclusively dedicated to the development and manufacture of premixed nutrient systems. The company custom formulates ingredient blends from a comprehensive selection of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, nucleotides, nutraceuticals and other specialty ingredients. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., the company has a global manufacturing and distribution network consisting of international companies, including Fortitech Europe, Fortitech Asia Pacific, Fortitech South America and Fortitech Mexico.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those concerning management's expectations with respect to future events or future financial performance. Any such statements that refer to either L.i.M.S. or Water's anticipated future results, product performance, or other non-historical facts are forward-looking and reflect Water's current perspective of existing trends and information. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified, and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Millennium and Waters are trademarks of the Waters Corporation.
STARLIMS is a trademark of L.I.M.S. (USA) Inc.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation.